“WorkLife”

A Workplace TV Comedy

Two experienced millennials. 

Two clueless Gen Z founders. 

One dysfunctional workplace.

Created & written by Chris Allen

Logline

Two ‘seasoned’ millennials join a chaotic Gen Z digital media company, clashing with the company’s inept founders and unconventional younger colleagues, as their fragile industry struggles to survive.

Synopsis

In an era of billionaire idolization, the creator economy, and LinkedIn influencers, New York-based Gen Z media company WorkLife positions itself as “the next big thing by two young white guys.” Founded by two clueless business grads, leveraging their privilege to secure a $100 million investment, they are utterly unprepared to transform their dorm-room blog into a thriving media empire.

Amid mass layoffs sweeping the fragile media industry, they bring in two seasoned professionals to help turn their vague vision into some kind of reality. Now, these burnt out and disillusioned millennials must navigate their bosses’ bewildering daily demands and alarming mismanagement, while contending with the clashing egos and personalities of their much younger colleagues.

As the founders face pressure from their new UK parent company eager to see a return on its sizable investment, their erratic behavior escalates. While they scramble to prevent WorkLife from becoming just another failed startup, our protagonists must find a way to make it all work—or risk sinking into media industry oblivion like the legacy publications they were recently laid off from.

Characters

(with casting ideas)

  • Bailey Brooks

    (Dino Fetscher)

    Head of Content at WorkLife

    “How did I end up here? I've interviewed Malala for fuck’s sake.”

    With a sharp tongue, quick wit, and a softer side hidden beneath layers of sarcasm and cynicism, Bailey is equal parts magnetic and neurotic, with a knack for seeing through the corporate BS. He’s clawed his way up in the cutthroat world of New York media, from working class middle America, with equal parts determination and disillusionment but, deep down, there’s still a glimmer of boyish hope buried deep in his recently broken heart. 

  • Lexi Carter

    (Allison Williams)

    Director of Social Media at WorkLife

    “I’m a woman in her thirties working in social media, soon I’ll be as obsolete as Vine.”

    Lexi is as charming as she is aloof. Razor-tongued yet affable, talented yet detached, she navigates the modern workplace plagued with a nagging sense of unfulfillment. She’s tired of playing by the rules in a man’s world with a fear of settling down in a loveless marriage like her parents and a love life that often feels like one long joke she doesn’t find very funny anymore. She knows social media is a young person’s game, her expiration date is looming, and she has no escape plan. 

  • Chad Kaufman

    (Nolan Gould)

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO at WorkLife

    “This means I can finally rub my success in all my haters' faces. Take that, dad.”

    In a world full of polished CEOs and savvy entrepreneurs, Chad Kaufman is the exception to the rule. With his misplaced confidence, relentless ambition, and a severe lack of self-awareness, the twenty something eager, grossly ambitious media tycoon fancies himself as the smartest person in every room, yet he very seldom is. Yet he’s determined to prove he has what it takes for greatness.

  • Brad Hoffman

    (Mitchell Hoog)

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO at WorkLife

    “I can finally fulfill my aspirations of becoming a thought leader. And podcast host.”

    The epitome of style over substance, this brawny yet sensitive himbo is hoping to find fulfillment and inner peace in his whirlwind pursuit of success and glory. Despite his impressive physique and attractiveness, he’s grappling with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. And sometimes his ego gets the better of him as he takes out his insecurities on those around him.

  • Becky Howell

    (Sofia Black-D'Elia)

    “Becky with the Good Credit" Creator at WorkLife

    “Once, in an Erewhon, Kate Hudson told me that I am an inspiration to her.”

    She’s mastered the art of endless self-promotion, building a brand around her innate magnetism and turning a profit like nobody’s business. But beneath the filtered image lies a young woman grappling with her own sexuality and the mounting pressure to maintain her carefully curated perfect life which is nothing more than a carefully crafted facade – a facade that’s finally starting to crack.

  • Duncan Kennedy

    (Mason Gooding)

    Head of Sales at WorkLife

    “Did they let a few hiccups stop Fyre Fest from going ahead?”

    With muscles as big as his ego (and a mouth to match), he bulldozes his way through the corporate world with a blend of bravado and machismo. He uses his physicality and charm as both a shield and a weapon. He’s the kind of guy who struts into a room like he owns the place, with a swagger that’s as enviable as it is infuriating. He desperately wants to prove himself in this cutthroat world, fighting to be top dog no matter what. 

  • Dick Diamond

    (Ralph Barbosa)

    ‘Hustle & Entrepreneurship’ Creator at WorkLife

    “I was eight weeks premature, I was born ready.”

    Self-proclaimed “king of the hustle,” despite his privileged upbringing, Dick’s determined to make a name for himself, following in the footsteps of his business savvy idols Jay Z and A-Rod. But, deep down, he knows that his online persona is just that – a persona. Gaining the recognition he craves is proving to be elusive, as his peers are often laughing at him, not with him.

  • Matthew Beaver

    (Niles Fitch)

    Executive Assistant at WorkLife

    “I've actually won my local Dungeons and Dragons tournament a record thirteen times, not to brag.”

    With an unmistakable last name and a heart of gold, Beaver’s greatest strength lies in his unwavering dedication and loyalty. With his sunny demeanor and geeky charm, Beaver is a paradox of wisdom and naivety – unbelievably smart, yet bafflingly inexperienced when it comes to life.

  • Kevin Azad

    (Anthony Keyvan)

    ‘Money’ Creator at WorkLife

    “I don't vibe well with finance bros and I'm too pretty not to be on camera.”

    A pompous child genius with resting bitch face, Kevin thrives off letting everyone around him know he’s smarter than them. Handsome and astute, he finds it hard being around other people, especially dumb ones. He’s self-absorbed and vain, but his hubris masks a desire to find real human connection, something he’s missed out on due to his intellect.  

  • Lesley Peterson

    (Xosha Roquemore)

    Chief of Staff at WorkLife

    “They’ve agreed to all your terms. Even making Coachella a company holiday.”

    Fierce, logical, pragmatic, and unapologetically herself, Lesley isn’t afraid to speak her mind, especially when it comes to cleaning up the messes left behind by the founders. And while she may be tough as nails on the outside, she’s not immune to the emotional toll that comes with being the company’s mother figure and glue that holds everything together.

Season One

Episode 1
After getting laid off from their legacy publications, Bailey & Lexi land jobs at shiny new Gen Z media company WorkLife. After being acquired by a UK conglomerate, clueless founders Chad & Brad are determined to see immediate success. But when Bailey & Lexi’s first task is to produce and launch a podcast with the company’s inexperienced creators, Becky & Dick, they soon realize they have no idea what they’ve signed up for and that the industry they once knew is gone.  

Episode 2
Bailey, Lexi, and Duncan are forced to team up as Chad & Brad challenge them to find WorkLife’s next big creator, leaving Becky feeling neglected during her new merch launch and Dick feeling insecure about a new face joining the company. And once Kevin walks through the door things are never the same again. Beaver nervously signs up to a dating app.

Episode 3
As the team expands, Bailey finds an unexpected connection with a male colleague, Lexi dives headfirst into creating a viral marketing campaign (going to extreme lengths to achieve success), Dick’s dream collaboration with a rapper turns sour, and Becky’s confidence is shaken when her secret affair with a woman threatens to unravel her carefully constructed image.

Episode 4
Bailey and Lexi find themselves in a tight spot when they’re tasked with collaborating with a successful female health and wellness mogul. The catch? She’s a total fraud. Meanwhile, Duncan’s infatuation with a woman from their building leads him to seek dating advice from an unlikely source. And Brad faces a harsh reality check when his thought-leadership book is met with scathing criticism online.

Episode 5
Bailey and Lexi find themselves in a spicy predicament when they’re tasked with creating the company’s own version of “Hot Ones” with an eager Brad at the helm. While Bailey and Lexi carefully navigate the precarious situation, Brad’s wild ideas keep throwing them off course. Duncan starts to unravel when the live event he organized doesn’t go as planned, leaving Becky & Dick in an uncomfortable predicament and Lesley & Beaver to put out fires.

Episode 6
Chad and Brad are being profiled by Forbes for an entire week. Determined to present their company as flawless, they go to great lengths to maintain the illusion of perfection. Bailey and team land an exclusive interview with a reclusive billionaire, but chaos erupts when controversy inevitably ensues. Lexi finds herself torn when she meets the perfect guy on paper. And accidental intoxication on a crucial day at the office results in unexpected consequences.

Episode 7
The annual company party brings a night of revelry and chaos as tensions simmer beneath the surface. With alcohol flowing freely, misunderstandings abound, secrets are revealed, and drama unfolds, leaving everyone with more than just a hangover to contend with by morning. As the night progresses, friendships are tested, alliances shift, and the fallout threatens to leave lasting scars on the team. Will they be able to patch up the damage and move forward, or will the aftermath of the party linger long after the last drink is poured?

Episode 8
In the gripping season finale, tensions reach a boiling point as executives from the UK parent company descend upon the office for a week-long visit, while devastating news rocks the company: due to industry turbulence, a massive downsizing is imminent, with 25% of staff facing layoffs. As the reality sinks in, the team must grapple with the harsh repercussions and the relationships they’ve formed will be put to the ultimate test. Will they pull through together, or will the fallout tear them apart?

“Extremely relatable to a large swath of television viewers, particularly the demographics that advertisers are interested in reaching.”

“The script is funny, there are great one-liners and a high number of jokes per page.”

“Bailey and Lexi are well-developed characters, and they could likely excite some solid talent looking to sink their teeth into a satirical and smart show like this.”

“The supporting cast of side characters feel authentic to the world portrayed in the pilot and are well-primed to be even funnier as the series develops.”

“This script could be an excellent candidate for streamers like MAX or Apple and has the chance to be an exciting, smart, hysterical, and socially significant series.”

The Vibe

It’s the TV show that defines our generation. Or at least a TV show that defines a generation.

Imagine a mashup of “30 Rock” and “Succession”, infused with the raw authenticity of “Hacks”, the razor-sharp bite of "Veep”, and a touch of “Schitt’s Creek”’s heart. Picture the characters from “Girls” colliding with the women from “Sex and the City”—all navigating the same chaotic office.

This is the R-rated “Devil Wears Prada” of the 2020s, peeling back the curtain on a seemingly glamorous yet fiercely competitive industry, while holding up a mirror to our image, wealth, and success obsessed society.

“WorkLife” delivers a scathing yet hilarious commentary on modern work culture, the new generation gap, and the relentless demands of late-stage capitalism. It explores the compromises we must all make in the pursuit of success and the struggle to find meaning in a heavily Instagram-filtered world. This comedy of errors promises to resonate deeply with anyone grappling with the reality that, in the end, nobody truly knows what the f*ck they’re doing and we’re all just trying to figure life out.

Because when everything falls apart, you might as well get a viral TikTok out of it.

The Scribe 

I’ve worked in the notorious world of media for over 15 years. Originally from Liverpool, UK, I started working on global TV shows like “The X Factor,” “Britain’s Got Talent,” “Big Brother,” and “Dancing with the Stars,” where I had a front row seat to Susan Boyle’s backstage dramas and the rise of One Direction.

After achieving a lifelong dream of moving to New York City, I started working in digital media, producing original content for renowned brands such as Cosmopolitan, Fast Company, Morning Brew, and Betches, racking up billions of followers, subscribers, views, comments, and engagements along the way. I’ve been at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry… Because I have evolved along with it.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with countless memorable characters and witnessed an infinite amount of jaw-dropping, TV show-worthy moments. Whenever I share my stories with people, they usually respond with three things… 1) “Wow, you’re a great storyteller,” 2) “You should write a TV show one day,” and 3) “Can you say that again, I was distracted by your beautiful hazel eyes and thick Liverpool accent.” 

Well, that day finally came and I sat down and I wrote it. Now I need help bringing it to life.

Target Audience

  • Targeting Gen Z (ages 18-29) and millennials (ages 30-45), the show aims to capture a large female audience while also appealing to LGBTQ+ viewers.

  • A rewatchable and quotable show, designed with the chronically online in mind, that thrives across digital platforms with a multi-platform content strategy.

Advertisers

  • Storylines will seamlessly incorporate brands organically, such as Becky partnering with a female-focused Gen Z brand or Lexi working on a campaign aimed towards millennial women.

  • We will integrate marketing and product placement with genuine purpose, weaving it into the fabric of the narrative in a thoughtful and creative way. 

Marketing

  • A comprehensive 360° content strategy to launch and promote the show across all major platforms—TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, podcasts… Cash App?—featuring original scripted and unscripted content, subtly blurring the line between fiction and reality. integrated into the production process.

Production

As a workplace comedy, the show is mostly set in one location: the office. 

The show can primarily be produced on a single soundstage, featuring a main office set that can be covered from multiple angles, alongside a few other recurring sets such as conference rooms, Bailey’s apartment, Lexi’s apartment, and Brad and Chad’s office. Occasional exterior or location shoots can be incorporated as needed.

It will showcase a distinct visual style (picture “Hacks” and “Girls”), rapid fire comedy (not broad, underplayed like “Veep”), a unique creative direction (the show will evolve as we explore its world more every season, similar to “Hacks” and “Schitt’s Creek”), while adopting a scrappy shooting approach, utilizing two cameras at all times to enhance efficiency and allow for possible cast improvisation (similar to “Veep”).

To draw audiences in, the show only requires a few reliably funny and talented faces. It would benefit from casting emerging talent or social media creators, offering them a platform to become stars, much like “Schitt’s Creek” did for Annie Murphy and “Hacks” has done for Meg Stalter.

With my experience working in both major studio television and the agile world of digital media, this show is well-positioned to secure a direct season order from a streaming service as a relatively low-budget production.

To read the pilot script please email: chris@waywardboundmedia.com

WGA #: I372929

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